With the original American live commentary and no commercials breaks !

Dan Wheldon, whose
victory in the 2005 Indianapolis 500 made him the first Englishman
since Graham Hill in 1966 to win that world prestigious event. Also a
stunning performance from youngster Danica Patrick a rookie woman who
has now millions of fans around the world.

Rookie Danica Patrick,
who qualified fourth and finished fourth, became the first female
driver in Indy history to lead laps during the race. Patrick led three
times for a total of 19 laps, and won the Rookie of the Year award. Considerable media hype and attention was focused on the race and on Patrick in particular during the month,giving birth to the term "Danica Mania."

The increased attention going into the race helped register a 6.5 Nielsen rating, the highest since 1996.

Race summary

Start

Race dawn emerged warm and sunny, with temperatures in the mid 70s (°F), and no chance of rain. Speedway chairperson Mari Hulman George gave the command to start engines at 11:58 a.m. (EST). The field assembled for two parade laps and one pace lap behind the Chevrolet Corvette C6 pace car, driven by Colin Powell.

At the start, a very well-aligned field saw polesitter Tony Kanaan take the lead into turn 1. The field circulated safely through the first lap. In the third turn, Sam Hornish, Jr. passed Kanaan for the lead, and led the first lap. Kanaan re-took the lead on lap 3. The duo traded the lead once more before Larry Foyt crashed on lap 18, bringing out the first caution.

Most of the leaders pit under the yellow, and Kanaan won the race off of pit road.

First half

Sam Hornish, Jr.
took the lead on lap 38, and the race began to settle into a pace. On
lap 55, a series of green flag pit stops shuffled the field momentary.
Hornish ducked into the pits first, followed by Kanaan. The shuffle
brought Danica Patrick
to the lead on lap 56. It marked the first time in Indy 500 history
that a female driver led a lap in competition. She pitted the next time
around, and Hornish emerged once again as the leader.

Second half

On lap 147, Sam Hornish, Jr. went to pass Sébastien Bourdais
on the outside of turn one. He slid high, and smacked the outside wall.
The leaders pit on lap 149, which meant that only one more fuel stop
would be required for each car. Exiting the pits, Bryan Herta was penalized for speeding on pit road, and was moved to the rear of the field for the upcoming restart.

On 155, the field prepared to go back to green. Accelerating in the north short chute, Danica Patrick, running 8th, did a half-spin, and tagged Tomá Enge. Tomas Scheckter spun to avoid the crash, and wrecked into the inside wall. Jeff Bucknum, Patrick Carpentier, and Jaques Lazier
also got caught up in the melee. Patrick damamged her nosecone, and
ducked immediately into the pits. The team replaced the nose of the car,
then a second pit stop (lap 159) saw her change tires and top off the
fuel. Patrick dropped to 11th, the last car on the lead lap. Just before
the restart on lap 161, Bryan Herta ducked into the pits, and topped off the fuel. The team intended to go the distance without another pit stop.

Finish

With 30 laps to go, Dan Wheldon led Vitor Meira. Roger Yasukawa brought out the yellow when his car blew an engine down the front stretch. All of the leaders except Patrick and Herta
went to the pits. Staying out, Patrick and Herta shuffled up to the
front of the field. Patrick took the lead for the second time of the day
on lap 172, and led Herta on the lap 173 restart. To the delight of the
crowd, Patrick pulled out to a 1 second lead. Her crew instructed her
to dial down the fuel mixture (in an effort to make it to the finish), and her lead began to dwindle. Dan Wheldon caught her on lap 186, and took the lead. At the same time, Kosuke Matsuura hit the wall in the exit of turn four.

With ten laps to go, the green flag came back out. Patrick darted around Wheldon, and took the lead into turn 1. She held the lead for three laps. With seven laps to go, Wheldon passed her once again, and pulled out to a lead. With less than three laps to go, Vitor Meira and Bryan Herta managed to get by Patrick, while Wheldon continued to pull away. Down the back stretch with less than 1˝ laps to go, Buddy Lazier passed Sébastien Bourdais
on the outside for 5th place. Bourdais got loose in turn 3, and crashed
into the outside wall. The yellow and white flag were displayed, and
one lap later, Dan Wheldon won the race under caution.

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